How Do You Change Your Major?

Choosing a major in college is no small decision, but that doesn’t mean you can’t change your mind at some point down the road. Indeed, roughly one-third of undergraduates actually change majors during their college careers, and around 10% change majors more than once.

While the decision to change your major can be stressful, actually making the switch doesn’t have to be. The key to a smooth transition is to do some strategic planning and to keep up communications with your university.

Here’s what you need to know to successfully change your major.

First, Declaring a Major

Many colleges and universities ask undeclared students to choose a major by the end of their sophomore year. This gives students time to earn general education credits and try different types of classes to see what interests them.

Once you’re ready to declare a major, the official process varies by school. Generally, you need to schedule a meeting with your assigned academic advisor. You might also need to meet with a department advisor for your chosen major.

In a department or advisor meeting, you will typically review your academic progress and roughly outline the rest of the required courses you need in order to complete your major.

These courses and their timing aren’t set in stone, but it can help give students an idea of how heavy their course load will be until graduation, and set expectations for how long it’ll take them to complete the degree.

From there, the request to declare a major needs to be approved by that specific department or college. That might be as informal as a meeting or as formal as an application.


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Possible Reasons to Change a Major

Deciding to change majors is a personal choice. There’s no one sign for all students. In fact, a combination of factors may inspire a switch.

While not an exhaustive list, here are a few reasons why you might feel it’s a good idea to change majors:

•  More excitement about a different area of study: Maybe you’re a computer science student but feel more excited by an art history elective than anything else on your schedule. That could be a reason to think about changing majors. Of course, a major isn’t only about passion for the subject, but that does come into play. When nearly every class is boring, it might be time for a change.

•  Poor grades: College courses should be challenging, but if you’re regularly failing, or just barely passing required courses, it might be time to consider a different major. Not only does it indicate that the area of study might be outside your talents, but bad grades can also jeopardize graduation and completing the degree on time. If you’re giving a course your all and still coming up short, it might be time to consider alternatives.

•  Really, really good grades: This might sound counterintuitive, but if courses aren’t challenging, then the major might not be the best fit. If you feel bored in class but continue to ace the coursework, it might be a good idea to look at other majors or consider a double major or adding a minor.

•  Money: Selecting a major is often a delicate balance between finding something you love and something that leads to a career post-graduation. Picking a major solely because it could mean big bucks after college could lead to regrets down the line. Remember that post-grad life should feel fulfilling, too.

•  An awful internship: Now this can be a little tricky. If you end up hating a summer internship related to your major, you should try to evaluate if it was the work or the management that you disliked. It might have been a poor fit culture-wise but a good fit workwise.

If any or all of the above sound familiar, it might be time to think about changing majors. Additionally, it might just be helpful along the way to evaluate satisfaction with a major, even if you decide to continue in that area of study.

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Considerations Before Changing a Major

If it feels like it may be time to change majors, here are a few considerations to keep in mind before crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s:

•  What courses transfer? If your desired new major is far outside your current area of study, you might have to basically restart college. For example, a psychology major who changes tack to engineering might not have much overlap on course curriculum. Just like mapping out courses when declaring a major the first time, you’ll want to consider doing the same before changing majors. It can show you how much work or courses will be required.

•  Will it cost more? Depending on tuition pricing or area of study, changing majors might end up costing you more in the long run. That could be from additional course fees or taking more classes to catch up over the summer. Once you map out the course load for a major change, crunching the numbers is a good idea.

💡 Quick Tip: Even if you don’t think you qualify for financial aid, you should fill out the FAFSA form. Many schools require it for merit-based scholarships, too. You can submit it as early as Oct. 1.

•  Will it take longer? It may not be possible to graduate in four years if the new major is vastly different or the change comes late in an academic career. More time at school could mean more taking out more student loans. (Then again, less than half of bachelor’s degree earners graduate within four years.)

•  Will it line up with post-graduate goals? It’s important to enjoy an area of study, but it’s also important to ensure it aligns with jobs you want after graduating. If you enjoy classes in international relations but don’t like the job prospects, that might be a poor choice of major.

Time, money, or heavy course loads don’t have to squelch a change in major, but they should be factors to be aware of before making the switch.

💡 Quick Tip: Even if you don’t think you qualify for financial aid, you should fill out the FAFSA form. Many schools require it for merit-based scholarships, too. You can submit it as early as Oct. 1.

How to Change a Major

The reality is, deciding to change majors is likely harder than the actual process of doing so. Changing majors won’t be so different than declaring a major in the first place.

First, you’ll want to schedule a meeting with your current academic advisor to talk through the choice. Your advisor may be able to offer insight or even provide course recommendations in your new major.

Typically, students are required to fill out a short form and have their current as well as new academic advisor sign it to make the major change official.

Depending on the college or area of study, you might have to apply to the specialty school on campus you wish to transfer to as well.

The Takeaway

How to change your major? It requires thought and a talk with your academic advisor. Changing majors can alter a lot about the college experience, from course load to post-grad plans. It can also impact how many years you’ll spend in school and the total cost of your education.

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FAQ

Is switching your major easy?

Switching your major can be relatively straightforward, but the ease depends on your school’s policies, the timing, and your intended new major. Generally, the earlier in your college career you change majors, the easier it will be. Some majors have competitive entry requirements or limited spots, which can make switching harder. Your academic advisor can guide you through the prerequisites, paperwork, and deadlines.

How can you change your major?

Changing your major typically involves meeting with an academic advisor to discuss your goals, reviewing degree requirements, and completing a formal change-of-major form. Some schools allow changes online, while others require department approval, especially for competitive programs. You may need to meet minimum GPA requirements or complete certain prerequisite courses before switching.

What year is too late to switch majors?

While there is no absolute “too late,” switching majors becomes more complicated the further you progress in your degree. Changing during your first or second year usually causes minimal disruption, but doing so in your third or fourth year may require additional semesters to meet new requirements.

How common is it to change majors?

Changing majors is actually fairly common. Studies show that around one third of students switch at least once during their college career. Many students enter college unsure of their long-term goals, and discovering new interests through coursework often leads to a change. Some switch for better career prospects, while others change to follow passions they hadn’t considered before. While changing majors can extend graduation for some, it’s a normal part of the academic journey and not a sign of failure.

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